The All Blacks, are they 'That' good, or...

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I definitely think it has a lot to do with the state of the other teams. SA are in a shambles at the moment and Aussie are hardly better. And while improving, Argentina are still well off the level needed to really challenge the ABs. That being said, NZ are playing VERY well, but I don't think they've necessarily gone to another level post world cup, it's just their usual main rivals (SA and Aus) have fallen further behind, while Argentina remain an improving yet lesser capable side. It'll be interesting to see if they are so dominant on the end of year tour. I think they'll still win every match, but I suspect that it will prove a bit more challenging than the Rugby Championship.

 

[TheOvalBall]

When you put away bad teams, you always look very impressive. The All Blacks will only really show what they are made of, when they come up against a team who can really match them.

 

[Reign]

When you put away bad teams, you always look very impressive. The All Blacks will only really show what they are made of, when they come up against a team who can really match them.

So every team in the world is 'bad'? The All Blacks may need to leave Earth in search of someone who can match them :lol:

 

[Deleted member 53362]

When you put away bad teams, you always look very impressive. The All Blacks will only really show what they are made of, when they come up against a team who can really match them.

Sorry thats ******** its up to everyone else to get up to the standard. Same thing was levelled at England in the early 00s and to be honest they still lost to sides they should have bet. This all blacks side doesnt seem to do that, they beat everyone.

 

[The Jones Boy]

They now hold the world record for the most consecutive wins in a row by a tier 1 international rugby team, for themselves with 18 straight wins.
Are they that good?
Maybe England at Twickenham or the British Lions will prove otherwise.
In the meantime it's a pretty impressive achievement for a team that lost 900 caps 10 months ago

 

[valley commando]

They have learned to get away with things better than others, also ref's often give them the call in 50/50 situations, but in general they are better than the rest because of the top 10%

 

[Sailor Pete]

Looking at the final score of the 2016 RC; the question that started this thread has to be answered in two parts.

1. Yes the AB's are that good. You don't win by the margins they've consistently won by, if you're not that good. Even opponents found wanting are going to get lucky and catch you out at some point..., but not this AB side.
2. NZ rugby is that good too. Super Rugby proved it, and it's provided the AB selectors with a talent laden pool of players and coaches that's become the not only the envy of all the other rugby playing countries, but the template everyone is considering...

The game has changed and NZ Rugby changed with it. May have even caused the change... Either way, the way forward for the rest of the world is to re-look at how they manage / select their players and coaches and move forward from there. Its do-able. Challenging for many different reasons, but do-able.

 

[The Jones Boy]

They have learned to get away with things better than others,

What a load of old rot, if you genuinely believe that then you are destined to be eternally bitter.

.... ref's often give them the call in 50/50 situations...

I don't believe that for an instant.
You make your own luck by playing positive rugby. Some calls by officials are mystifying and the deal is get on with the job.
Sounds like a blame mentality Valley, rather than examining the rugby.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

They now hold the world record for the most consecutive wins in a row by a tier 1 international rugby team, for themselves with 18 straight wins.
Are they that good?
Maybe England at Twickenham or the British Lions will prove otherwise.
In the meantime it's a pretty impressive achievement for a team that lost 900 caps 10 months ago

Be more afraid of England, Ireland or Wales individually than the Lions. If the Lions win a test I'll get a back, sack and crack wax and I never let them near my crack!

 

[Groundhog]

Ireland could steal a win. England are super capable of it. Lions haven't a chance. Good sides don't just look good on paper and Lions won't have anywhere near the level of cohesion and game plan required despite the quality of individual players.

 

[smartcooky]

They have learned to get away with things better than others, also ref's often give them the call in 50/50 situations, but in general they are better than the rest because of the top 10%

Utter rubbish. Not every 50/50 call goes their way. The 50/50 calls tend to go about evenly
.

 

[AzaMatt]

My response to the original post is simply Yes. haha. as noted though the other teams have gotten a little worse since RWC (with england being the exception) but new zealand are playing at the same level if not better. their skills are just on another level compared to other teams IMO. really looking forward to the match at twickers, england could give them a run for their money, as much as it pains me to say it i will be cheering them on! bout time someone beat them

 

[The Jones Boy]

If the Lions win a test I'll get a back, sack and crack wax and I never let them near my crack!

I say, steady on old chap.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Be more afraid of England, Ireland or Wales individually than the Lions. If the Lions win a test I'll get a back, sack and crack wax and I never let them near my crack!

It's stupid bets like that that lead to me possessing an "urn" (jamjar) of an Australian mate's burnt hair following the 2010-11 Ashes series. You'd better come good on that, buddy

 

[The Jones Boy]

It's stupid bets like that that lead to me possessing an "urn" (jamjar) of an Australian mate's burnt hair following the 2010-11 Ashes series. You'd better come good on that, buddy

Ha ha ha thats excellent.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's stupid bets like that that lead to me possessing an "urn" (jamjar) of an Australian mate's burnt hair following the 2010-11 Ashes series. You'd better come good on that, buddy

Haha! If it happens and I'm reminded I'll do it, not worried in the slightest though.

 

[The Jones Boy]

I definitely think it has a lot to do with the state of the other teams. SA are in a shambles at the moment and Aussie are hardly better. And while improving, Argentina are still well off the level needed to really challenge the ABs. That being said, NZ are playing VERY well, but I don't think they've necessarily gone to another level post world cup, it's just their usual main rivals (SA and Aus) have fallen further behind, while Argentina remain an improving yet lesser capable side. It'll be interesting to see if they are so dominant on the end of year tour. I think they'll still win every match, but I suspect that it will prove a bit more challenging than the Rugby Championship.

I worry that the tiredness of a super long season is going to kick in
Already the boys looked a bit jaded on the weekend at times against Oz and Hansen said as much after the game

I wonder if Crockett has his eye on Dallaglio's record of playing in the most consecutive winning games

 

[Shaggy]

Speaking of records, some of the records that the All Blacks do not hold may put the current side in perspective, particularly when compared to the other tier one record holders

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11735238

 

[Every Time Ref]

Ha ha ha thats excellent.

It started off as "loser shaves his head" and then kind of escalated

Haha! If it happens and I'm reminded I'll do it, not worried in the slightest though.

We'll see how my memory is - usually not very. To be honest you've probably got two solid levels of protection against ever having to go through with this

 

[TRF_heineken]

Utter rubbish. Not every 50/50 call goes their way. The 50/50 calls tend to go about evenly
.

True, otherwise it would have been more like 75/25 calls...